Ph.D. in Educational Leadership

What Will You Study in Liberty’s Ph.D. in Educational Leadership?

• Application of organizational theories and models in higher education leadership
• Conflict management and resolution strategies
• Current issues and trends in educational leadership
• Dissertation research and faculty mentorship
• Integration of theory and practice in educational leadership

In this program, you’ll engage deeply with leadership theory and policy as applied to educational institutions, exploring how to design, manage, and transform higher education systems. You’ll examine emerging challenges and trends in the educational landscape, sharpen your capacity for critical analysis and decision making, and learn the tools of empirical research to frame, investigate, and respond to real problems in educational leadership. You’ll also study how leaders negotiate power, culture, and conflict within organizations, integrate evidence and theory to support effective governance, and frame and conduct your own research that can contribute new insight to the field.

Potential Career Opportunities for Ph.D. in Educational Leadership Graduates

• College or university administrator
• College or university professor and/or researcher
• District administrator
• Educational change agent
• Educational consultant for an education organization or government agency
• Leadership researcher
• Performance improvement officer
• Principal or assistant principal

*Please note: some positions require licensure which this program does not provide.

Highlights of Our Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership Program

As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026 – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your online Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
• Most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors. As a nonprofit university, Liberty continues to strive to keep costs low for our students!
• You can learn how to create and administer effective education environments.
• Our Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership program can help you develop educational management skills and foster leadership in teachers and students.
• Completing your Ph.D. gives you a terminal educational credential that shows employers you have reached the academic pinnacle of your field’s achievement.

Military Tuition Discount

We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want — at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $375/credit hour. Here’s how:

• If you’re earning or have earned a master’s degree through Liberty, you automatically qualify for the low price (when you begin within 2 years of your master’s completion).
• If you haven’t earned a graduate degree through Liberty, our Executive Certificate program allows you to pay only $375/credit hour for a postgraduate certificate that can stand alone or potentially count as the first 21 hours of a related doctoral degree. Then pay just $375/credit hour for your doctorate. Learn more!